Ventilator unit



Feb. 14, 1961 J. H. FEIG VENTILATORUNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16,1958 INVENTOR.

JEROME H- BY W ATTO/P H.

Feb. 14, 1961 J. H. FEIG VENTILATORUNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16,1958 INVENTOR.

J EROME H- FEIG BY ATTOIF/VEX Feb. 14, 1961 J. H. FEIG VENTILATOR UNIT sSl1eets -Sheet 5 Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR.

JEROME H-FE G ATTU/F/VEX 2,971,451 VENTILATOR UNIT Jerome H. Feig, NorthHollywood, Calif., assignor to Progress Manufacturing Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 16, 1958,Ser. No. 742,254 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-115) This invention relates toventilating hoods, and particularly to ventilating rangehoods fordrawing otf cooking odors and heat from the general area of a cookingrange.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a ventilatingrangehood which may be either wall mounted or mounted from the bottom ofa storage cabinet of the type generally found in kitchens located over acooking range and in which the exhaust duct may be connected to eitherthe top or rear wall of the hood.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yentilating rangehoodcontaining its own exhaust blowers and including provisions forproviding auxiliary lighting in the area of the cooking range with acontrol panel for selectively energizing the exhaust blower and lightsingly or in combination.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ventilatingrangehood provided with an exhaust blower and auxiliary light which maybe selectively electrically operated within a completely enclosedhousing so constructed and arranged so as to provide ready access to theblower and light circuits for easy servicing and maintenance and whicheliminates the electrical shock hazard due to exposed wiring.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a ventilatingrangehood having side walls which taper inwardly and forwardly to thehood front so that the doors of the adjacent cabinets may be fullyopened.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification together with the drawingswherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the ventilating hood assembly mounted beneath thecabinet.

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the ventilating hood assemblyshowing the control buttons on the front apron and the arrangement fortop venting of the hood.

Figure 3 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 33 of Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 44 of Figure2.

Figure 5, consisting of Figures 5a through 5 is an exploded view showingthe parts contained within the housing which encloses the exhaust blowerand light arrangement.

Figure 5a illustrates an underside fragmentary view of the central hoodarea where the top and side walls Figure 5b illustrates a typical blowerassembly for mounting to the hood in the region shown in Figure 5a.

Figure 5c illustrates a wiring tray for securement to the hood.

Figure 5d illustrates the housing for enclosing the blowers and'a lightassembly.

Figure 5e illustrates an electrical control box and attached lightassembly.

Figure 5] illustrates a damper and venting duct mounting assembly forsecurement to the outside top or rear wall of the hood.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the lighting fixture and its mountingbracket which is mounted to the ventilating hood and also carries thecontrol buttons.

Figure7 is a sidevsectional view illustrating the exhaust blowersmounted for top venting through the hood.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 8-8of'Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the exhaust blowersmounted for rear venting through the hood.

Figure 10 is a fragmented sectional view taken along the lines of 1010of Figure 9.

In the various figures like elements are denoted by like referencecharacters.

Turn now to an examination of Figures 1, 2, and 3,

which illustrate the external features of the ventilating hood andhousing which encloses the exhaust blower and light assemblies. Figure 1illustrates a hood 20 mounted beneath a wall-mounted cabinet 22, thehood 20 being physically secured to either the cabinet 22 or to the rearWall, or to both. The hood 20 is formed of a pair of side walls 71, aback wall 72, a front apron 73, a top wall 74, and a pair of diagonalportions '70 running inwardly and forwardly from the side walls 71 andmerging with the front apron 73. Since the apron '73 extends forwardlyfrom the front of the cabinet 22, it will be appreciated that cabinetsplaced to the left and the right of the cabinet 22 and extendingdownward below the top of the hood 20 would be restricted to a limitedopen door position if it were not for the forwardly and inwardlyextending areas which permit door opening of adjacent cabinetssubstantially beyond 90 degrees. Suspended within the hood is anenclosure 21 which houses the blower and light assemblies and theelectrical wiring. The sides and bottom of the enclosure 21 may belouvered as at 38 to permit heat and odors to be drawn inwardlytherethrough by the exhaust blowers and forced out through the ventstack. Also mounted in the enclosure 21 is a curved window 37 fortransmission of light to the cooking area, and this window 37 may beeither transparent or translucent and formed of glass, plastic, or anyother suitable substance.

The plan view of Figure 2 shows the electrical control buttons 32extended through the front apron 73 of the hood 20 and a cut-out plate31. arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3. The control buttons 32 aremounted to the lighting fixture support and control box 28 which issecured to the underside of the hood-front apron 73 by a pair of nuts 29which are threaded onto a pair of bolts 30, the latter being affixed toor through the plate 31. The bolts 30 on the plate 31 extend through thehood front apron 73 and through a pair of cars bent outwardly from thebox 28.

These ears 75 are best seen in the view of Figure 6 and in the explodedview of Figure 5. The back wall 72 of the hood 2!) has bent outwardlyand upwardly from the bottom thereof a pair of hinge hooks .36 whichextend through a pair of complementally formed slots 35 in the housing21 thereby allowing the latter to be pivoted in a vertical plane aboutthe hinge hooks 36. The hinge hooks 36 and the slots 35 are best seen inthe showings of Figure 3 and the exploded view of Figure 5.

The housing 21 is secured in its normally closed position by a wing bolt33 which extends through a hole in a tongue 34 forwardly extending fromthe housing 21 and threadingly engaged through a hole in the bottom ofthe control box 28. This fastening engagement is best seen in the viewsof the Figures 3 and 4. Figure 2 also illustrates the arrangement of topventing for the exhaust by means of an automatic damper 24 pivotlysecured to a damper frame 23 by a rod 25, the damper assembly beingsecured to the hood top 74 by a pair of sheet metal screws 2727. Theventing action takes place through a pair of holes 41 cut through thehood top 74 in position for registration with the exhaust mouth of apair of centrifugal blowers which are mounted to the underside of thehood top.

Turn now to a consideration of the exploded view of Figure 5. Figure 5aillustrates a fragmentary view of the A side view of this centralsection of the back wall 72 and top 74 of the hood 20. The hinge hooks36 which depend from the rear wall 72 are here clearly visible as aretwo pairs of venting holes 41 and 42, the vent holes 41 in the top74allowing for top venting of the ventilating hood 20 whereas the holes 42in the rear walls 72 are located for venting through the rear wall ofthe hood 20. A pair of lipped angle brackets 39 are secured to the backand top inner hood surfaces by mounting feet offset from the lipportions as for example by welding, for securing the blower assemblyshown in Figure b in position for top or back venting. The blowerassembly of Figure 5b is secured by sliding the outer edges 65 of theexhaust mouth flanges 55 under the raised lips 62 of the angle brackets39 and thereafter locking the flanges 55 against displacement bytightening of the pressure screws 40 threaded through the lipped portion62 of the angle brackets 39. When so mounted the exhaust mouths of theblower assembly register with either the pair of top venting holes 41 orwith the pair or back venting holes 42. The top and back ventingpositions assumed by the blower assembly of Figure 5b are illustrated inthe showings of the Figures 7 through 10, to be subsequently described.

As further shown in Figure 5a a bracket 43 is aflixed to the back wall72 of the ventilating hood 20 and a bracket 45 is aflixed to the top 74.The bracket 43 has depending from the bottom thereof a bolting piece 49adapted to pass through a hole 26 in the wiring tray 48 illustrated inFigure 5c. The bracket 43 is also apertured in registration with acorresponding aperture through the rear wall 72 so that electrical powermay be introduced through the rear wall of the hood by a pair ofelectrical conductors 44. The sectional view of Figure 4 more clearlyshows this arrangement and also illustrates a strain relieving cableclamp 66 located adjacent the outer rear wall 72 of the ventilating hood20. The bracket 45 affixed to the top 74 of the ventilating hood 20supports an electrical outlet socket 47 which is energized from acircuit within the junction box 46, the latter also being supported bythe bracket 45. The electrical outlet socket 47 mounted on the bracket45 transmits power to the motor 54 of the blower assembly of Figure 5bthrough the cable 56 and the plug 57, the latter being adapted forplugging engagement into the socket 47.

As previously mentioned, the control box 28 illustrated in Figure Se isadapted for mounting to the underside of the ventilating hood frontapron 73 by the ears 75 and the nuts 29. A pair of conductors 61 isshown entering the control box 28 for bringing power to the controlswitches mounted upon the latter. Only two leads are shown forillustrational purposes whereas in actuality there will be a pluralityof such leads running between the control box 28 and the junction box 46mounted in the bracket 45. The switches 32 (not visible in Figure 5e)mounted on the control box 28 may be wired to provide a plurality offunctions. For example, the five switches 32 shown in Figure 2 may be sowired that the left-hand most switch energizes the light bulbs 59 shownin Figure 5e and its adjacent switch deenergizes the light bulbs, themiddle switch may completely deenergize the blower assembly of Figure 5band the two right-hand switches may energize the same blower assemblyfor low speed or high speed operation.

The wiring tray 48 illustrated in Figure 5c is seen to have a cut-out 52and a forward lip 51, the latter being turned into a downwardlyextending position. The lip 51 is adapted to fit into an aperture 63 inthe back of the control box 28, this interlocking engagement beingreadily apparent in the cross-sectional view of Figure 4. When soengaged, the wiring tray 48, is front supported by the lip 51 invertically pivotal fashion and may be swung upwards for engagement withthe top 74 and rear wall 72 of the ventilating hood 20. The wiring tray48 may be secured in this position by a wing nut 50 threaded onto thebolting extension 49 depending from the bracket 43 which fits throughthe aperture 26 in the wiring tray 48- With the wiring tray 48 sopositioned, the bracket 45, and hence the junction box 46, are enclosedand the electrical outlet socket 47 mounted in the bracket is accessibleto the plug 57 of the blower assembly by virtue of the cut-out 52 in theside of the wiring tray 48. Thus, the wiring tray 48 which completelyencloses the electrical conductors running between the power inlet inthe rear wall 72, the junction box 46, and the control box 28,eliminates the electrical shock hazard attendant to exposed wiring forexample when one of the light bulbs 59 (Figure Se) is being replaced.This is extremely important since the light bulbs 59 are subject to burnout and would normally be replaced by a housewife or other person notfamiliar withthe requirements for electrical safety, and therefore,electrical wiring which may be exposed when the housing 21 is hingeddownward for access to the lights can present a serious shock hazard.

Figure 5d, which illustrates the housing 21 has already been generallydescribed in connection with Figures 1 and 3. The wide slotted opening68 in the front housing 21 is provided so that the width ofthe controlbox 28 may fit therein when the housing is hinged upward into itsfastening position. Before passing from Figure'Sd to Figure 5f it shouldbe noted that the louvers 38 in the housing 21 may be optionallydispensed with and be replaced by apertures with mounting brackets forsecuring removable grease filters to the housing, or the louversmay beretained and the grease filters mounted behind the louvers on the insidesurfaces of the housing 21.

Figure 5] shows a bottom view'of the automatic damper assembly seen intop view in Figure 2. The installed automatic damper assembly may bebest seen in the showings of Figures 4, 7, and 9 to which attentionshould now be directed. Figures 4 and 7 show the damper assemblyarranged for top venting with the damper supporting frame 23 seated onthe outside top 74 of the vent hood 20 and lipped over in engagementwith the back wall 72. In such position, the damper 24 rotates in avertical plane about the hinge pin 25 when the impellers 60 of theblowers 53 are rotating. The damper 24 remains open while the blowers 53areoperating and thereby exhausting into the vertically rising duct 66,and automatically falls into its horizontal closure position when thesupporting airflow from the blowers ceases.

Figure 9 illustrates the condition for back venting wherein the dampersupporting frame 23 is seated and secured against the back wall 72 ofthe ventilating hood 20 and is lipped for a short distance over the top74. In this case the air stream from the blowers 53 will rotate thedamper 24 about the hinge pin 25 into a horizontal position, and thedamper 24 will automatically fall into a vertical closure position whenthe air stream from the blowers 53 ceases. Figures 8 and 10 clearlyillustrate the manner in which the blower assembly is mounted for top orrear venting with the exhaust mouth flanges 55 of'the blower assemblyslidably engaged under the lipped portions 62 of the angle brackets 39and securely clamp by v the pressure screws 40.

Return now to a consideration of Figures 4 and 5 for an understanding ofthe assembly procedure. First, the prewired control box 28 may be wiredinto the junction box 46 in the bracket 45 and also physically mountedto the underside of the front apron 73 of the venting hood 20 with thecontrol switches 32 extending therethrough. Next, the power cable 44 maybe led in through the back wall and bracket 43 vertically along the backwall 72 and then forwardly along the top 74 and into the junction box46. The wiring tray 48 may now be placed in position by inserting thedownwardly turned lip 51 into thev opening 63 in the back of the controlbox 28, then swinging the wiring tray upward surrounding and enclosingthe power wiring and .then being fastened by means of the boltingpiece49 and wing nut 50. At this point the wiring is completely enclosed.Finally, the damper assembly and blowerassern'bly aremounted for either101) or rear venting as desired, the damper assembly being secured bythe screws 27 as previously described, and the blower assembly beingsecured by the pressure screws 40 after being slidably engaged by thelipped portions 62 of the angle brackets 39. The blower plug 57 is nowinserted into the prewired electrical outlet 47 and the housing 21 ishung from the hinge hooks 36 on the rear wall 72 and pivoted upwardlyand locked in position to the bottom of the control box 28 by the wingbolt 33.

Although this invention has been described in connection withapplication to the venting of heat and cooking odors from a cookingrange, it is equally applicable to a wide variety of other applications,for example in a chemical laboratory for the removal of vapors which maybe poisonous or of disagreeable odor. Various modifications and changesmay be made from time to time to the invention without departing fromthe essential spirit thereof.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A ventilating hood assembly including top and rear walls joining in asubstantially right angled corner with each wall being aperturedproximate said corner, an electrically operated blower assemblyincluding an outwardby flanged exhaust mouth, blower mounting meansattached to said apertured walls on opposite sides of and closelyadjacent to the said wall apertures for removably securely mounting saidblower assembly exhaust mouth in registration with either one of saidwall apertures for optional top or back venting of said hood, saidblower mounting means comprising first and second angle brackets eachhaving a pair of mounting feet and a lipped portion ofiset from each ofsaid feet, one of said pair of mounting feet of each bracket beingsecured to said back wall and the other of said pair being secured tosaid top wall, said lipped portions forming with said back wall a firstpair of parallel facing channels and forming with said top wall a secondpair of parallel facing channels. said wall apertures lying intermediatesaid facing channels, each of said facing channels enclosingly slidablyengaging an edge 'of said blower exhaust mouth flange, screw meansthreaded through said bracket linped portions for pressing the exhaustmouth flange firmly against the hood venting wall, and an automaticdamper assembly including an exhaust duct mounting flange securable overthe apertured portion of either of said top or back walls whereby anexhaust duct may be connected for optional top or back venting of saidhood.

2. A ventilating hood assembly including top and rear walls joining in asubstantially right-an led corner with each wall being aperturedproximate said corner, and an exhaust duct mounting flange securableover the apertured portion of either of said walls whereby an exhaustduct may be connected for optional top or back venting of said hood. afirst bracket mounted on said rear wall. and an L-shaped wiring tray ofU-shaned cross-section detachably mountable to the underside of saidhood with one leg vertically disposed along the back wall and the otherleg horizontally disposed alongthe top wall. the open mouth of theU-shaped cross-section of the wiring trav being closed by the back andtop walls when the wiring tray is mounted and thereby forming a wiringconduit, said rear well being apertured within the bounds of saidconduit for the introduction of electrical Wiring to said conduit, saidventilating hood having also a front wall with an electrical control boxdetachably mounted to its underside, said control box having anapertured rear wall through which wiring may be led into the control boxfrom said wiring tray, the forward end of the horizontally disposed legof said Wiring tray having means detachably interlocked with the saidrear wall of said control box, and the vertically disposed leg of saidwiring tray being detachably secured to said first bracket by meanscarried on the latter, whereby a completely closed conduit forelectrical wiring between said control box and blower assembly includinga blower having an exhaust mouth and an electric motor coupled to theblower for driving the same when the motor is energized, and blowerassembly mounting means attached to said apertured top and rear walls onopposite sides of and closely adjacent to the said wall apertures forremovably securely mount ing said blower assembly exhaust mouth inregistration with one of said wall apertures for optional top or backventing of said hood, said blower motor being disposed within the angleof said L-shaped wiring tray closely beneath the horizontal ieg thereofand closely adjacent to the vertical leg thereof, and means forenergizing said blower motor from wiring extending through said wiringtray.

3. The ventilating hood assembly according to claim 2 wherein said motorenergizing means includes a second bracket affixed to the underside ofsaid top Wall within the bounds of said wiring conduit and having anelectrical socket mounted thereto, said wiring tray surrounding saidsecond bracket and being apertured for accessibility to said socket,said socket being wired for selective energization from said controlbox.

4. The ventilating hood assembly according to claim 2 wherein saidwiring-introducing-aperture in said rear Wall registers with an aperturein said rear wall mounted first bracket so that electrical wiring isintroduced to said conduit through said registered apertures.

5. The ventilating hood assembly according to claim 1 including a firstbracket mounted on said rear wall, and an L-shaped wiring tray ofU-shaped cross-section detachably mountable to the underside of saidhood with one leg vertically disposed along the back wall and the otherleg horizontally disposed along the top wall, the open mouth of theU-shaped cross-section of the wiring tray being closed by the back andtop walls when the wiring tray is mounted and thereby forming a wiringconduit said rear wall being apertured within the bounds of said conduitfor the introduction of electrical wiring to said conduit, saidventilating hood having also a front wall with an electrical control boxdetachably mounted to its underside said control box having an aperturedrear wall through which wiring may be led into the control box from saidwiring tray, the forward end of the horizontally disposed leg of saidwiring tray carrying means detachably interlocked with the said rearwall aperture of said control box, and the vertically disposed leg ofsaid wiring tray being detachably secured to said first bracket by meanscarried'on the latter whereby a completely closed conduit for electricalwiring between said control box. and wiring-introducing-aperture in saidrear wall is formed, said blower assembly including an electricallyenergizable blower motor disposed Within the angle of said L-shapedwiring tray closely beneath the horizontal leg thereof and closelyadjacent to the vertical leg thereof, and means for energizing saidblower motor from wiring extending through said wiring tray.

6. The ventilating hood assembly according to claim 5 wherein said motorenergizing means includes a second bracket afixed to the underside ofsaid top wall within the bounds of said wiring conduit and having anelectrical socket mounted thereto, said wiring tray surrounding saidsecond bracket and being apertured for accessibility to said socket,said socketbeing wired for selective energization from said control box.

References Cited in the file of this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,349,668 Marker May 23, 1944 2,548,406 Sonntag Apr. 10, 1951 2,633,071Erickson Mar. 31, 1953 2,710,573 Marker June 14, 1955 2,780,981 MillerFeb. 12, 1951 2,807,994 Bernstein Oct. 1, 1957 2,828,683 Joseph Apr. 1,1958 2,839.987 Pryne June 24, 1958 2,857,836 Bernstein Oct. 28, 1958

